Myanmar WASH Flood Response 2015

MoM Meeting

Date: 07/08/2015

Venue: UNICEF Yangon Office

Time: 10:00

Chair: Unicef

Attendees: See attached list

Absentees:

Sr. / Topic / Time / Who
1.  / Current Situation overview / James
2.  / Coordination Update (Sector and Cluster arrangements)- discussion on key WASH contacts / All
3.  / Assessment update by participants / All
4.  / Response update by participants / All
5.  / Logistics and supplies (including available stockpiles) by participants / All
6.  / AOB / All

Minute:

Topic 1 : Current Situation overview
Summary of discussion / Government (DRD & DPH) and NGOs on the ground responding to immediate WASH needs in all states.
As of August 5th RRD reported: 255,400 Affected Population, 12 States, 77 Townships
·  84% of the population affected in 4 states/regions
·  59% of the population in just 10 Townships
Anticipating further flooding in Bago and Ayerwaddy and Joint assessment teams have been dispatched to assess.
Action Points
Topic 2 : Coordination Update
Summary of discussion / ·  Overall leadership for the response is led by RRD with support from OCHA.
·  Key government interlocutors for WASH actors are department of rural development (DRD) and department of public health (DPH). These actors are both active on the ground in all affected regions/states and townships.
·  Cluster is only active in Rakhine and Kachin states at this time. Where Cluster is not activated it remains a sector led response partners should coordinate directly with DRD and DPH at state/regional/township levels as these are government focal agencies for WASH response.
·  At this stage poor information on Who, What and where due to large areas covered, and access difficulties. Rakhine is well covered but relatively few WASH actors active in affected townships of Chin, Sagaing and Magway.
·  On August 4th DRD shared a simple 3W template with Myanmar WASH Group calling for coordination and asking partners to share WASH information on what they are doing where. Responses requested by COB August 7th.
·  On August 6th OCHA shared 3W template. Responses requested by COB August 6th.
·  WASH Cluster will support consolidation of 3W WASH information in whatever format it arrives for production of first 3W due on Wednesday August 12th
·  For future 3W UNICEF will liase with government to consolidate an agreed standard.
·  Partners noted that major part of the WASH response so far has been from religious groups, small CSOs, private sector, groups of friends and individuals. This information is not captured within 3W mechanisms at all and therefore there is high scope for poor coordination of aid. Outreach through social media is recommended to try to involve these actors in sharing basic 3W data.
·  DRD tentatively plans to support WASH sector meetings w/c August 17th . Possibly at the state/regional level depending on needs.
Action Points / ·  All partners to send 3W information using the template or at least as bullet points to Director of DRD U La Khaing ( ) and Htoot Min () by COB Tuesday 11th August.
·  WASH Cluster to compile 3W for Wednesday August 12th submission to OCHA
·  WASH Cluster to share updated format for 3W ASAP
·  UNICEF to explore ways of improving outreach and information gathering from WASH responders beyond the NGO/red cross/UN
·  WASH Cluster to update google group with new members
Topic 3 : Assessment update by participants
Summary of discussion / Agreed not to go into detail in this meeting due to limited time.
·  Main assessments for planning purposes currently coming through various govt departments/UN & cluster joint missions and red cross figures. OCHA supporting to triangulate figures.
·  New joint assessments launched in Ayerwaddy and Bago over the weekend.
·  Chin still inaccessible but access to smaller vehicles likely to be open very soon.
·  If partners have capacity to do multi sectorial assessments they should use MIRA format to ensure consistency and share with OCHA.
·  Recommend to share all assessments on Mimu Assessment tracker which all sectors are being asked to start using as standard.
Action Points / Partners to share assessments on MIMU assessment tracker
Partners to use MIRA where appropriate.
Topic 4 : Response update by participants
Summary of discussion / Agreed not to go into detail in this meeting due to limited time.
Key principles of the WASH response:
·  Ensure strong coordination with government for this response as they are in the lead.
·  Focus should be on helping people to return to their homes and resettle as quickly as possible.
·  Cash based activities highly recommended to help clean up and inject cash into local economies.
Main 1st response recommended WASH activities:
·  Distribution of water purification sachets
·  Cleaning of water sources
·  Setup of rainwater catchment systems
·  dewatering of ponds contaminated with saline water (Rakhine)
·  Targeted distribution of hygiene kits
·  Emergency sanitation in locations where people are likely to be displaced for longer time periods, likely in Kale and Chin state.
Concern raised about some organisations in Rakhine potentially dewatering non saline ponds unnecessarily. This is being closely monitored by Rakhine WASH cluster.
Strong recommendation for promotion of rainwater harvesting as source of drinking water.
Action Points
Topic 5 : Logistics and supplies
Summary of discussion / ·  Many roads and bridges still impassible. Situation improving.
·  Worldvision has provided large supplies of water treatment P&G sachets so far (2.4 million)
·  Need to know who else is importing/ordering WASH supplies in bulk to avoid over purchasing and or overstretching markets and causing price spikes
·  DRD 3W included a section for major supply orders
·  UNICEF has and can support with logistics.
Action Points / All partners to inform to share with UNICEF about major supply orders. ()
Topic 6 : AOB
Summary of discussion / Funding Available:
·  CERF proposal submitted for WASH. Funds expected to be available next week
·  OCHA launched call for proposals for ERF fund ($1 Million USD). Deadline 11th August
·  http://www.themimu.info/calls-for-proposals For other proposals.
·  Funding available to government through World Bank to be explored further
Need to coordinate with other sectors to avoid overlapping meetings.
Action Points / WASH will update MIMU Meeting tracker.
Next WASH Flood Response Meeting: 10am Thursday 13th August